Luton: Two stalwarts exit

Luton Town have confirmed that both Club Captain Kevin Nicholls and defender Alan White have left the club by mutual consent.

The club’s statement told :

He left after ‘showing his loyalty to the Hatters. The decision comes after the 31-year-old volunteered to be released from his contract which was agreed after lengthy discussions.’

Club legend Nicholls made 244 appearances scoring 33 goals.

Originally,he was signed by Joe Kinnear from Wigan Athletic, in 2001, and achieved promotion in his first season.

In 2004 he again led the Hatters to promotion, this time to the Championship, but after one season in the Championship, he left to join Leeds United. His time at Leeds was not a happy part of his career and he moved on to Preston North End.

In a big coup for the club Luton Town 2020 tempted him to return to the club in the -30 points debacle of a season and although the end result of that season was just about a foregone conclusion, he gave one of his best ever performances in a Town shirt at Wembley as the club lifted the Johnstones Paint Trophy.

Nicholls has almost always had knee problems and his ageing joints gave up on him during last season and several operations ensued.

Manager Richard Money had said that his recuperation was ahead of schedule and that he hoped to have Nicholls back in the squad by Christmas, but it appears that with the strength of the midfield that has been put together, there probably was not going to be a place for SuperKev in the team.

Managing Director Gary Sweet told lutontown.co.uk:

‘In the modern era, the phrase ‘by mutual consent’ is tantamount to saying a contract has been terminated. In this situation, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

‘We have talked with Kevin all the way through his rehabilitation and at this time we both felt that it was in the best interests of both Luton Town and Kevin Nicholls if we parted company.’

Read full statement here

Kevin approached the club as he had seen Luton’s loyalty to injured players in the past and did not feel able to continue to take money for no contribution. Absolute legend.

Luton also conformed that defender Alan White has also left Kenilworth Road by mutual consent.

Central defender White, 34, also rejoined the Hatters after a former spell with the club, arriving prior to our first season on The Conference from Darlington. Unfortunately, he did not fit into the squad very well, looking unfit and off the pace, and went back to Darlington on loan after 16 games.

Alan returned to the club for the pre-season after his loan spell had ended and again never looked like being a first choice player for Richard Money, and it appears that he realises this, so it will be a benefit to player and club to release him from his contract.

Town managing director Gary Sweet said on the club’s oficial website:

‘Alan’s decision to leave us was purely a football decision.

‘It will allow him to look for a new club where he can ensure he can play regular first team football.

‘It is a mutual decision that benefits both Alan and Luton Town.

‘I would like to thank him for his professionalism, attitude and hard work over the past year and wish him all the best for the rest of his career.’

Whether these two departures will free up wages to improve the squad even further or merely help fund the excellent squad we already have I don’t know, but either way I reckon these decisions were good business for the club.

I wish them both the best of fortune and thank them for their efforts at the club.

Now watch them return with new clubs and bite us in the ‘arris! 🙂